In celebration of the 250th anniversary, a historic marker was recently placed at the Paine Monument adjacent to the TPHA Headquarters on North Avenue in New Rochelle, NY. The monument was first erected in 1839, with money raised through “public contributions.” It was situated just a few feet from where Paine was buried in 1809. His former 277-acre farm, a gift from the State of New York for his role in America’s independence, extended up the hill. The monument was repaired and rededicated on May 30, 1881. The bronze bust, sculpted by Wilson McDonald, was added to the monument and dedicated on May 30, 1899. It was rededicated in 1905, when the City of New Rochelle took ownership.
An iron fence protects the monument, and, as a result, many people do not know that all four sides of the obelisk have famous Paine-isms carved into the stone. The new marker shares these timeless messages.
ON THE WEST SIDE
“The world is my country… to do good is my religion”
Paine’s motto
“The palaces of kings are built upon the ruins of the bowers of paradise.”
Common Sense, January 10, 1776
ON THE SOUTH SIDE
Two long quotations cover this side. The top features the famous opening paragraph from Crisis I that begins:
“These are the times that try men’s souls.”
The second offers the long first paragraph of Crisis XIII which begins:
“The times that try men’s souls are over and the greatest and completest revolution the world ever knew, gloriously and happily accomplished.“
ON THE NORTH SIDE
“I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe in the equality of man, and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavouring to make our fellow-creatures happy.”
Age of Reason, Part 1, Chap. 1
“It is necessary to the happiness of man, that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.”
Age of Reason, Part 1, Chapter 1
ON THE EAST SIDE
Two more long quotations from Age of Reason, Part 1, Chapter IX, cover this side. The first begins with:
“It is only in the CREATION that all our ideas and conceptions of a word of God can unite.”
The second begins with:
“Do we want to contemplate his power? We see it in immensity of the creation.”